Inside Ipswich council’s $250m redevelopment plans for CBD and when cinema, shops, restaurants will open

Significant steps have been made so far to revitalise the city centre but for many, the most exciting features are yet to come. Here’s what is coming next and when.

Lachlan McIvor

3 min read

July 14, 2021 - 10:37AM

Ipswich City Council's new $125 million administration building in the Nicholas Street Precinct has welcomed 750 staff.

Ipswich

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Significant ratepayer money has been invested into reviving the heart of the Ipswich CBD, which flatlined years ago and has endured several false starts, broken promises and millions of dollars flushed down the drain.

Ipswich City Council plans to spend a total of $250 million redeveloping the old mall into what is now known as the Nicholas Street Precinct.

Council-owned Ipswich City Properties lost more than $78 million through its ill-fated attempts to progress the redevelopment under the previous administration, led by disgraced former mayor Paul Pisasale.

It was revealed under administrator Greg Chemello that Ipswich City Council lost $78 million through its failed attempts to progress the redevelopment under the former administration.

Significant steps have been made so far but for many, the most exciting features are yet to come.

The civic space, which is made up of the one-hectare Tulmur Place plaza, two libraries, the council’s new $125 million administration building and an overhauled 1000 space car park underneath, has been completed.

The 111-year-old Commonwealth Hotel has been reconstructed at a cost of $6.2 million to ensure it is safe for use.

A further $5 million will be spent by the council extending it in order to accommodate a “prominent” hotel operator and it is hoped it will be ready in time for Easter next year.

The retail component of the precinct will be made up of shops, restaurants and entertainment businesses with about 20,000 sqm of retail space and capacity for 30 tenancies.

Ipswich mayor Teresa Harding and Paul 'Campo' Campion at the official opening of Tulmur Place in November.

Four of those tenancies are expected to be filled by restaurants by the end of the year and the remaining spaces are set to open by Easter next year.

This ‘Eats’ section is on track for opening in October.

The retail leisure space, which includes the revamped cinema complex, is expected to be finished by early 2023.

A cinema operator has yet to be secured but the facility which formerly housed Birch Carroll and Coyle is expected to be up and running by early next year.

A preferred operator is set to be selected by the council in August.

Further announcements on what exactly which businesses are expected to set up shop will come in the coming months.

They can’t be revealed yet as deals progress due to commercial in confidence but talk behind the scenes is ‘significant’ brands that have yet to land in Ipswich will lure people back to the CBD.

Inside the restored Commonwealth Hotel.

According to the latest report presented to councillors this month, as of June 19, 13 non-legally binding heads of agreement had been signed with prospective tenants for the precinct, with 10 lease documents issued and another five lease documents being prepared.

Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said what was being undertaken was the biggest redevelopment of the CBD since the 1980s.

“The renewal of the Ipswich CBD is a catalytic project to create an enduring and thriving civic heart for the city of Ipswich,” she said.

An operator to take over the cinema complex has yet to be secured.

“As one of Queensland’s fastest growing regions, the re-establishment the city centre will ensure Ipswich is prepared for population growth through the attraction of investors, residents and tourists, and increased worker population.

“The Nicholas Street Precinct will be the city’s leading lifestyle, leisure, entertainment and cultural destination where the community and visitors alike will come to eat, drink and play.

“Positioned as a catalyst for attracting investment, invigorating growth opportunities and increasing overall visitation and attraction, the Nicholas Street Precinct will become the new urban heart of a revitalised Ipswich CBD.”